The Tropical Fruit Forum
Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: simon_grow on August 15, 2017, 12:34:38 AM
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The California (Coachella Valley) grown Keitts were excellent last year and I was wondering if anyone has seen them around yet? I purchased mine last year from Trader Joe's, Costco and the local Asian markets like aluvky Seafood. I would love to pick some up if anyone spots any so please post here if you happen upon some. Thanks in advance!
Simon
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For me they are ALWAYS at the 99 cent only stores this time of the year. They are $1 each and huge. I bought 20 the other day.
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I lied, you said california, the ones I get are Mexican.
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The Keitts are coming. They were early last year but it's usually September if memory serves me.
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Thanks everyone, please post here if you see the Keitts. I'm not opposed to the Mexican ones but I prefer the ones that are not hot water dipped although I've had some excellent tasting Mexican grown Keitts.
Simon
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Yes, please do, I don't recall having a Cali keitt.
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I'm going to eat them until I get really sick when they show up. ;D
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I got a number of California Keitt's last year that weren't very good, which was disappointing because in previous years they were excellent. Anyone know if some brands are better than others?
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I'd like to know just like the poster where you find them once available.
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Anyone know how to contact the growers in the Salton Sea?
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Anyone know how to contact the growers in the Salton Sea?
A couple of articles with leads found with a Google search.
http://www.theproducenews.com/category-list/9-story-cat/1498-1367 (http://www.theproducenews.com/category-list/9-story-cat/1498-1367)
http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/mango-madness (http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/mango-madness)
http://newamericamedia.org/2017/08/coachella-rising-aging-farmworkers-unions-organic-mangos-the-salton-sea.php (http://newamericamedia.org/2017/08/coachella-rising-aging-farmworkers-unions-organic-mangos-the-salton-sea.php)
As Simon said, the major growing area is the Coachella Valley around places like Mecca.
Wong farms supplying Santa Monica farmers market https://www.wongfarms.org (https://www.wongfarms.org)
Tilden Farms - Fruits & Veggies - 17055 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92504 (951) 780-2200 https://www.yelp.com/biz/tilden-farms-riverside (https://www.yelp.com/biz/tilden-farms-riverside)
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My wife spoke with the guy from Tilden farms at our local Farmer's Market yesterday. He said the Keitt mangos are out, but still VERY expensive, so he isn't bringing them to the Farmer's Market yet.
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i am curious as to what are in the stores now then ??
i usually go to one of 3 Latin markets
but, Wall Mart is also carrying them now (whatever they are)
Last year i think it was Kent that was really good
or, maybe it was year before last ?
i couldnt stop eating them.
This year, whatever is in stores now is pretty decent
ive gotten them from 2 latin stores, and an Indian store.
some were from Mexico
i cant remember where the others were from
but, i think Ecuador ? or maybe Guatamala ?
The last ones were not that large, last month they were huge.
I am in New Orleans, so i am not that good at identifying the variety.
Ive been thinking Kent, but these last ones seem awful small for Kent ?
about the size of a smaller Tommy, but taste much better.
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I purchased 3 CA Keitts today at Whole Foods in Santa Barbara.
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Anyone know how to contact the growers in the Salton Sea?
A couple of articles with leads found with a Google search.
http://www.theproducenews.com/category-list/9-story-cat/1498-1367 (http://www.theproducenews.com/category-list/9-story-cat/1498-1367)
http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/mango-madness (http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/mango-madness)
http://newamericamedia.org/2017/08/coachella-rising-aging-farmworkers-unions-organic-mangos-the-salton-sea.php (http://newamericamedia.org/2017/08/coachella-rising-aging-farmworkers-unions-organic-mangos-the-salton-sea.php)
As Simon said, the major growing area is the Coachella Valley around places like Mecca.
Wong farms supplying Santa Monica farmers market https://www.wongfarms.org (https://www.wongfarms.org)
Tilden Farms - Fruits & Veggies - 17055 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92504 (951) 780-2200 https://www.yelp.com/biz/tilden-farms-riverside (https://www.yelp.com/biz/tilden-farms-riverside)
mango can survive out there?
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Mexican Keitts are available at Costco and other retailers. I'll check out Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to see if they have the California Keitts and report back. This year, the Mexican Kents were very good with Brix of 19%. Lucky Seafood is where I purchased them.
Simon
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I had something labeled "tree ripened" Kents from Mexico at a super market up here. They were about to go bad. But what was still good was superb at least by my California Mango standards.
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I've been getting some nice Kents from Costco for about two months. I sliced up several boxes of them and dehydrated them so I can enjoy them for a few more months. Today I was at Costco and saw they now only have Tommys.... No wait, what is that in the back? A few boxes of Keitts (from Mexico)! So I bought two boxes of those to try out. The price was right: 6 mangoes for $5.49. I'll let them sit for a few days to sweeten up a bit. If they are good, I'll go back for more and get the dehydrator back out.
Haven't seen any California Keitts though.
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I got a couple mexican kents and they were garbage compared to the altufalos. Will toss the seeds in a pot and try them for rootstock.
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Picked up a mexican keitt at sprouts in poway today. Havent tried it yet. Will let you know if I see CA grown but looks like all we get in Poway is made in Mex.
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I found some California-grown Esquire Mangoes today at El Cerrito Naturals (East Bay) -- they were listed as Keitt offspring. I hadn't heard of them before. They are actually the first non-Indian mango I've gotten at a store with the Indian mango (pine-y) flavor, though not quite as sweet.
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I got three yesterday. They were good, but not as good as in former years so far. The "tree ripened" mexican Kents I got were actually better based on the first one I ate.
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I've been getting some nice Kents from Costco for about two months. I sliced up several boxes of them and dehydrated them so I can enjoy them for a few more months. Today I was at Costco and saw they now only have Tommys.... No wait, what is that in the back? A few boxes of Keitts (from Mexico)! So I bought two boxes of those to try out. The price was right: 6 mangoes for $5.49. I'll let them sit for a few days to sweeten up a bit. If they are good, I'll go back for more and get the dehydrator back out.
Haven't seen any California Keitts though.
So far, I'm not very impressed with the Mexican Keitts that I got at Costco. Not very sweet, not much flavor. I don't expect to be buying more.
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The mexican kent and kietts have been blah IMO.
Someone who lives near palm springs gave us 2 mangos off their tree today. Giant green ones. I assume they are kietts. Will take a photo later and see if they are any better than the mex stuff.
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I bought a box of kents, giant ones, weer very fragrant, and super delicious. clocked 24 on Brix meter.
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Hey Behl, were they Mexican or grown in California?
Simon
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I am sure mexican
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Pickup a case of Mexican Keitt. The largest mango I have ever seen.
(https://s26.postimg.cc/3oxkb9a9h/IMG_4595.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/3oxkb9a9h/)
(https://s26.postimg.cc/7zc86ufcl/IMG_4596.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/7zc86ufcl/)
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What's going on here? This is not a boiled mango thread , we're in search of the real deal here!
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I still haven't seen any of the California grown Keitts available yet. I'm definitely be posting on here once they start showing up.
Simon
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They had some California Keitts at Monterey Market in the East Bay a couple days ago. They weren't the really large ones, though.
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Thanks for the heads up Barath, they will probably be more widely available soon then.
Simon
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(https://s26.postimg.cc/nuwcqnaqt/image.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/nuwcqnaqt/)
USA Organic $1.50 pd. Keitt's
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3 for $10 wtf??? I loved my Mexican keitts and all seeds were viable I have over 20 seedlings between keitts and kents.
Are Cali keiits notably better since they are not hot water dipped or are we paying up the butt for better seed viability due to not being treated for fruit flies?
(https://s26.postimg.cc/nuwcqnaqt/image.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/nuwcqnaqt/)
USA Organic $1.50 pd. Keitt's
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3 for $10 wtf??? I loved my Mexican keitts and all seeds were viable I have over 20 seedlings between keitts and kents.
Are Cali keiits notably better since they are not hot water dipped or are we paying up the butt for better seed viability due to not being treated for fruit flies?
(https://s26.postimg.cc/nuwcqnaqt/image.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/nuwcqnaqt/)
USA Organic $1.50 pd. Keitt's
Thanks Bush2beach, I'll keep my eyes open for when they show up around here.
A Zarafet, the seed viability will probably be the same as CA Keitts but quality of the CA Keitts were excellent last year. I've had great Mexican grown Keitts before and the super huge ones that are close to 3lbs from Mexico were excellent as well.
Early Mexican Keitts were pretty bad from my experience.
Simon
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I ate a couple of Mexican Keitts. They were excellent.
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Hey Simon,
It seems you really like Keitt taste. I noticed you had the opportunity to taste many kinds mango at various events, and so do you consider Keitt is on your personal top 5 list? My taste is different that I prefer strong flavor mangoes like NDM, Okrung, Cac Hoa Loc over Kent,Keitt, Glenn. Especially I find Keitt -- even local grown in CA -- too watery, enough sweet but no flavor.
(I have not tasted a NDM (not NDM golden color) but read from a Thai poster that he preferred NDM over Okrung which I had some fruits this year and I rate it at top of my list as of today, and so I think might like NDM too.)
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Hey Simon,
It seems you really like Keitt taste. I noticed you had the opportunity to taste many kinds mango at various events, and so do you consider Keitt is on your personal top 5 list? My taste is different that I prefer strong flavor mangoes like NDM, Okrung, Cac Hoa Loc over Kent,Keitt, Glenn. Especially I find Keitt -- even local grown in CA -- too watery, enough sweet but no flavor.
(I have not tasted a NDM (not NDM golden color) but read from a Thai poster that he preferred NDM over Okrung which I had some fruits this year and I rate it at top of my list as of today, and so I think might like NDM too.)
Coachella Keitt are below average tasting mangos, I've compared them against throughout the years(look in the forum search) to California backyard and Florida's Mango Factory Keitt's, and I found them to be barely edible. Of that list Sapote, Coc and Glenn arethe only good eating mangos but as Rob says taste is subjective......different strokes for different folks
if you want top- tier Asian mangos these are it....add PPK
Coc
Maha Channok tree ripen brix 23 creamy smooth amazing!!
This is why this mangos wins tastings
(https://s26.postimg.cc/ap9bd0ucl/IMG_7043_1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ap9bd0ucl/)
(https://s26.postimg.cc/qc0kqe84l/IMG_7042_1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/qc0kqe84l/)
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Hey Frank,
I think you have confirmed that Coachella Keitt are below average, even with some I was given from a gardener working in that farm -- so big so green but too watery.
I forgot to list my Maha on my list, and my own Edward that I just tasted the first time this morning. I will judge Edward when I try another ripe one. But at the moment I still prefer those little hand grenades Okrung -- intense sweet like honey with rich Asia resinous -- over others.
Those who like Keitt then Edward is the perfect for you.
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Yup, Frank said it correctly. I started this thread because the Coechella Keitts are the only locally grown mangos that we. An get around here. I've had excellent tasting Keitts but they are nowhere near the same level as some of the top tier mangos. I've tasted a large number of mangos considering I'm here in California because of Frank, Leo, AZ, Gary, Peter and a few others that have held mango tastings. Here is my top their list in no particular order:
Lemon Zest
Kesar
Sweet Tart
PPK
Piña Colada
Peach Cobbler
Ice Cream
DOT
Pineapple Pleasure
J12
Fruit Punch
Gary
And the local mangos
Leo Z
Leo #2
Aloha
Peggy Winters
And several of Rudys mangos that I lost the numbers to
Simon
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"if you want top- tier Asian mangos these are it....add PPK
Coc "
Is Coc an alternative name for Vietnamese Cac? The latter is correct name in Vietnam. I searched for "Coc mango" and got null.
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We have been getting these mangos I assume are Kiett from a coworkers parents who live in palm springs. They are really delicious, no fiber, big juicy and citrusy flavor, brix 18. A few of them were a lot darker orange but starting getting mushy.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4380/36673529180_fec9aaf0a4_b.jpg)
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Simon,
I bought some California-grown Keitt mangos from Wong Farm at the Pasadena Farmers Market last weekend. I talked to the vendor and he told me that Keitt should be available for another 2 weeks. I bought two mangos at $6/lb, not cheap but I wanted to try California-grown mango. I also bought some last year. I kept the mangos for about 2-3 days until they felt a little soft to the touch. I thought this year's Keitt tasted better than last year. The vendor had several boxes stacked 5-6 high. If you really want them, come to the Pasadena Farmers market this weekend. It is held on Saturday morning on the parking lot of Pasadena High School, FYI.
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Thanks for the heads up! Pasadena is a bit far for me so I'll wait till they show up locally. I've had the Coechella grown Keitts get to 20% Brix and they were excellent. Keitts can also be eaten green and crunchy.
Simkn
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There are California Keitts (Ava's not Wong's) at Whole Foods Market in Del Mar, San Diego (Via de la Valle exit off 5).
(https://s26.postimg.cc/ou474yvph/IMG_20170919_090852.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ou474yvph/)
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Whole foods has the CA keitt in right now. Cost 3.33 per mango.
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I had some Keitts from Whole Foods for $3 each and some Keitts from "el superior " grocery store assuming mangos were from Mexico at $1 each....I couldn't tell the difference from the California grown mangos and the Mexico grown. Both were good.
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Whole foods in Phx, AZ $3.99/ EA for a Keitt mango from california (Organic) - I refuse to buy
Meanwhile I am getting them from my local 99c store for $1.00 /ea non organic - I buy here ...tastes great
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I only get mine at the 99cent only store
Whole foods in Phx, AZ $3.99/ EA for a Keitt mango from california (Organic) - I refuse to buy
Meanwhile I am getting them from my local 99c store for $1.00 /ea non organic - I buy here ...tastes great
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I couldn’t make it to Whole Foods but I bought a few Mexican grown fruit that were great tasting with Brix of 19%. I get huge ones from the 99 cent stores. I know the topic of this thread is California grown Keitts but I noticed that some of the Mexican grown Keitts are Not Hot Water treated. There were also no labels indicating that they have been irradiated. I guess the fruit no longer have to be boiled?
(https://s1.postimg.cc/6423azfkbf/C010987_B-9464-4147-_B286-46_EFC93_D8_D34.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/6423azfkbf/)
Simon
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There are also California Keitts at the Sprouts in Poway, as of last week. They're not conspicuously signed, and they're only $2each
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Thanks for the tip, I’ll check out Sprouts next time I’m in the area.
Simon
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P.S. It's so odd to me that Sprouts isn't marketing them as locally grown and charging a premium as WFMarket is. Not only that, but the fruit is in a bin that just says "Green mangos." If you didn't notice the Ava's USA sticker you'd never know.
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I just got back from Trader Joe's in Costa Mesa, where I found some nice California Keitts for $1.99 each! The ones in the front by the avocados look a bit over-ripe, but back by the Deli case area, I found another group that was greener, firmer and fairly large. They will sit on my counter for a few days before I dig in.
Enjoy!
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Simon, I am thinking of planting some Keitt seeds in ground . In your opinion are these seeds worth propagating ? Are the rootstocks from this strain strong? I am going to try the "Organic" ones from Trader Joes' - $3.99 per mango .... will these sprout???
We have been getting some HUGE Keitt's from Mexico here in AZ ....CALLED SUPER MANGO on the boxes for .99c .
The biggest and best Keitt's I have ever tasted ...just for .99c????
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Hey Mango Maniac12,
Yes, these Keitt seeds are definitely worth planting, I’ve planted numerous Keitt seeds myself. I haven’t updated my experiments in a while but so far I’m finding out that any Mango seeds whether they be Kent, Keitt, Haden, Tommy Atkins or Manilla all work well for rootstocks. When planted early enough in the season to take advantage of the Summer heat, they can grow at an extremely rapid rate.
Simon
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Great news, thanks Simon. I will plant some. Yah, we are still in the 90's here in Phx. This is like a 2nd spring for us. LOL.
90'S HERE IS EXCELLENT WEATHER!
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Hey Mango Maniac12,
Yes, these Keitt seeds are definitely worth planting, I’ve planted numerous Keitt seeds myself. I haven’t updated my experiments in a while but so far I’m finding out that any Mango seeds whether they be Kent, Keitt, Haden, Tommy Atkins or Manilla all work well for rootstocks. When planted early enough in the season to take advantage of the Summer heat, they can grow at an extremely rapid rate.
Simon
Do you think they work as well as La Verne trees as rootstock in So Cal?
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I have a bunch of random seedlings and it’s too early to say for sure but they all seem to grow as well as the Lavern Manilla Mango seedlings.
Simon
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I have a bunch of random seedlings and it’s too early to say for sure but they all seem to grow as well as the Lavern Manilla Mango seedlings.
Simon
Interesting. What do you think it is about the Turpentine seedlings they use in Florida that makes them particularly bad for California? I ask because if so many different seedlings can work for us, but Turpentine doesn't, there must be something about it that makes it uniquely bad for us and good in Florida.
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I have a bunch of random seedlings and it’s too early to say for sure but they all seem to grow as well as the Lavern Manilla Mango seedlings.
Simon
Interesting. What do you think it is about the Turpentine seedlings they use in Florida that makes them particularly bad for California? I ask because if so many different seedlings can work for us, but Turpentine doesn't, there must be something about it that makes it uniquely bad for us and good in Florida.
I’ve been contemplating this fact for about the last six years and can’t say for sure what it is but there are several possibilities that do pop up in my head.
One of the possibilities is the fact that the trees are initially grown and potted in Florida and we don’t know how long they’ve been in the pots. They can be in the pots for extended periods of time because they need to be shipped to California and once they reach their destination here, they still need to be displayed at the Nursery where they may sit for another several months up to several years before they are sold. Based on my own personal experience, trees that are immediately planted into the ground as soon as they are purchased establish faster and appear to be much healthier than a tree that is purchased and kept in a pot for an extended period of time before planting.
Having stated the above, I was delivered several trees which were smaller and very healthy when I received them and I immediately planted them into the ground and they still died. They were Tebow, Carrie, NDM #4 and Mallika.
Another possibility is that there are disease pressures here that are not prevalent in Florida. Some of the major issues we get here is Phomopsis, gummosis and droopy branches that seem to lignify at a small diameter and not expanding much, or at all, after the lignification. I can pretty easily look at a Mango trees trunk and branches and tell whether it’s a Florida tree or not.
We have noticed several details that should give us a clue as to why the Florida trees perform so poorly here. Several varieties such as Valencia Pride, Lemon Zest, Sweet Tart and a few others appear to grow very well here on Florida rootstock although they still get some dieback, gummosis and droopy branches. These varieties are all vigorous and seem to be able to outgrow whatever it is that’s inhibiting other varieties on Florida rootstock.
Another pattern that I have noticed over the years is that the Florida rootstock trees appear to grow much better in areas with more heat units. This should be obvious to most people but it can easily be overlooked when we are focused on a specific geographical location such as Florida Vs SoCal. In Palm Springs, Gary’s trees on Florida rootstock are growing very well and even his Lemon Zest on Florida Turpentine rootstock is growing excellent and producing lots of high quality fruit.
When we focus in specifically on SoCal, I have noticed a trend where all the microclimates with higher heat units such as La Habra, Anaheim Hills and other slightly warmer cities in SoCal have much better success with Florida trees than in cooler climates like mine.
I know we would like to keep it simple and find the one reason why the Florida rootstock trees perform so poorly here but nature is complex and dynamic and I believe the issue is a combination of all the factors I listed above.
If I were to make my best guess right now, I would say that the Florida trees perform poorly here because (1) of the long duration they are kept in their pots, both at the Nursery in Florida, the Nursery here in SoCal and also at the homeowners property before they are planted into the ground.
(2) there are disease pressures here, or acquired in Florida, that affect our trees much more severely because of reason (1) above and because our cooler climate does not enable our trees to outgrow the disease pressures as easily as if they were grown at a warmer climate with higher heat units such as that of Florida or warmer parts of SoCal.
A grower can better understand what I’m describing above if you track how many vegetative growth flushes we get here Vs what Floridians get. Some of my Florida rootstock trees such as Glenn, Edward, Spirit of 76 and Maha Chanok have been in the ground about 7 years now and on average, they only vegetatively flush twice a year.
This is partially due to the fact that they bloom and hold fruit for about 6+ months out of the year and we only get good vegetative flushes for the warmest 2-4 months depending on where you live.
In order to capitalize on this small window period of “Ideal” growing weather, the Mango grower must water and fertilize properly in order to take advantage of these conditions.
I will copy and paste this into my “Growing Mango trees in SoCal” thread as I am drifting off topic.
Simon
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It's $4 a pop at the TX Whole Food, man I'm debating if I should pony up.... some are pretty decent sized.
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It's $4 a pop at the TX Whole Food, man I'm debating if I should pony up.... some are pretty decent sized.
Wow! I thought 2/$3 for a couple small ones at Stater Bros. was pricey
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I'm getting really inconsistent ripening from the Mex Keitts this year, some are sweet creamy musky and lemony, others are fibrous, pulpy, and just lemony (taste, not aroma).
My guess is cultivation methods are to blame.
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Last Keitt's came off my tree on October 15....a few years back the last date was October 10th
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Last Keitt's came off my tree on October 15....a few years back the last date was October 10th
How about the friends tree at the pond? Doesn't it still have Keitts?
As long as I or the animals/hurricanes/bugs don't pick mine, I have consistently had Keitts until November. This year is no exception and I already picked one today. I intentionally leave enough for 1+ a day picking till November. The + is for the animals/ or bugs. If I see a crack, I immediately pick it to avoid bug invasion. I presently have 20+ on a few different trees... Maybe a few more... :P ... gotta get my daily mango fix.
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Last Keitt's came off my tree on October 15....a few years back the last date was October 10th
How about the friends tree at the pond? Doesn't it still have Keitts?
As long as I or the animals/hurricanes/bugs don't pick mine, I have consistently had Keitts until November. This year is no exception and I already picked one today. I intentionally leave enough for 1+ a day picking till November. The + is for the animals/ or bugs. If I see a crack, I immediately pick it to avoid bug invasion. I presently have 20+ on a few different trees... Maybe a few more... :P ... gotta get my daily mango fix.
November is great. Amazing. My friend's keitt by the pond was knocked down by the hurricane in 2017. He should have stayed loyal to it because it was recovering and sprouting new growth. Instead he planted two new mango trees.
And his huge old Keitt...the stump is still there and putting out limited sprouts. The sprouts looked lots better last Spring before he mostly dug it out.
His Keitt tree had August into Mid September fruits
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I'm getting really inconsistent ripening from the Mex Keitts this year, some are sweet creamy musky and lemony, others are fibrous, pulpy, and just lemony (taste, not aroma).
My guess is cultivation methods are to blame.
They are boiled first before shipped over the border to kill fruit flies. CA keitts do not require hot water treatment to kill fruit fly since they are grown in CA and not imported. Try a CA grown while they ate in season.